Looking for work in another country requires more than just the obvious CV translation. Thorough preparation will give you a head start in the country of your choice.

Here is some information on Swiss work permits, job application procedures, selection process and management culture.

Work permits

• Work permits must be renewed every year.
• The permits are divided into four groups, depending on country of origin and length of stay.
• There is a fixed number of work permits for foreigners, allocated according to region and company.

 The application procedure

• The boss is usually present in the interview.
• Be prepared to answer questions about the company and your motivation for this particular job.
• Psychological and psychometrical tests are sometimes used.

Writing a CV

• View your CV as a marketing tool and adapt it to the applicable market. Nowadays, due to high-level degrees becoming commonplace, more focus is put on what you have done outside of your studies.
• The structure of your CV can either be chronological, reversed chronological or functional.
• Swiss recruiters give great importance to work experience.
• Write the CV in the main language used in the organisation, if possible.

The application letter

• The Swiss application letter is handwritten, well-structured and short; maximum one page.
• Write in a formal style.
• Refer to the advertisement you are responding to.
• Highlight your transferable soft skills and how you can use them to help the company.

Interviewing DOs:

• Maintain a clean and neat appearance.
• Combine handshakes with eye contact during introductions.
• Ask for clarification if you don't understand the question.
• Provide examples to illustrate your achievements.
• Ask questions to express interest.
• Emphasise how past experiences could relate to the role you seek.

Interviewing DON'Ts:

• Be surprised if the interview lasts up to an hour.
• Sit until invited.
• Criticise former employers.
• Be dramatic or exaggerate - stay calm and stick to the facts.

Management culture in Switzerland

• The culture of companies can vary somewhat, depending on whether they are in the German, French or Italian area of Switzerland.
• Swiss companies have a vertical hierarchy and decisions are made at the top.
• Meetings are sharp, orderly, task-oriented and impersonal.
• Discussions are very precise, cautious and can be a little gloomy to some.
• The Swiss are considered hard but fair bargainers.
• Office hours are Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 17:30.
• Business and private life are strictly separated in Switzerland.

Where to look for jobs

Recruitment advertisements in the press are not a tradition in Switzerland, although they tend to appear a little more frequently in German-speaking Switzerland. There is no real national newspaper, but the best newspapers for good positions are the ‘Neue Zürcher Zeitung' (NZZ), the ‘Tages Anzeiger', the ‘Journal de Genève', the ‘Tribune de Genève', the ‘Finanz und Wirtschaft', the ‘Handelsblatt' and the ‘Schweizerische Handels-Zeitung'. Consequently, recruitment web sites or agencies might the best option in your pursuit of employment.

Job searching online

http://jobs.expatica.com/ch 
www.glocals.com/classifieds/jobs-and-careers/ 
www.jobup.ch - Covers a range of industries including healthcare, IT, banking, hospitality, watch-making. 
www.topjobs.ch - For executives and professionals.   
www.monster.ch/lngPages.aspx (In French and German only)

Recruitment agencies

Adecco
www.adecco.ch
Throughout Switzerland

Aims International
www.aims.ch
Bern, Fribourg, Gland, St. Gallen, Zurich

Computer Brainware Advisors
www.cba.ch
Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Zurich

Oprandi & Partner
www.oprandi.ch
Throughout Switzerland

Page Personnel
www.pagepersonnel.ch
Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich

Pleinert & Partner
www.pleinertpartner.com
Zurich

Swisselect
www.swisselect.ch
Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Zurich

Excerpted from Looking for work in Switzerland by Expertise in Labour Mobility. To order a copy, visit www.labourmobility.com.